Sokolniki

Ikran - Ceciderunt Dea

In a settlement just east of The Aviary...

---

Elric sat in the shadows of The Aviary, the setting sun sinking behind the floating spires of the home of the Caelist, a new cigar in hand and his equipment at his feet. The mercs from before had dispersed as typical this time of day, with many of them getting their journeys underway, and those unsuccessful finding a bed for the night. Around him the settlement was still slightly busy, with the day-guard finishing their patrols, and the night-guard just now starting their shift. A cloaked Cruentai passed by him, a nod affirming that he was just checking to make sure no trouble was underway. Even this far into Caelist there could still be an incident, and crime made a habit of doing things that most would find unacceptable. Elric leaned back against the stone of the bench, its smooth surface warmed through the day by the rays of the sun and just now beginning to cool with the more temperate night.

A series of soft footsteps alerted him to another approaching, the weight of the steps and the slight jingle of metal telling him all he needed to know of the person walking towards him. The younger mercenary from before came up beside him, standing facing The Aviary until bid to sit on the bench. "Sir Elric," he began, the hesitation in his voice showing that he was slightly unsure if he was making another wrong move. "About earlier, I'd like to apologize for pressing the matter as I did." Elric waved away the statement casually, "It's fine boy, you're still learning the trade." The two sat watching the setting sun for a long moment before Elric stuck the cigar in his mouth and cupped one hand around the tip to shield it from the wind. Realizing he was minus a match, he looked over at the younger merc and gave a sly wink, igniting the cigar with a small burst of flame from his free hand.

"So then, tell me your name new-blood." The attitude of the younger merc seemed to brighten significantly as Elric asked him his name. "My name is Kal'Talarn, I took the job to follow in the footsteps of my father. He walked the borders of the Cruentai to help the human settlers defend themselves against the elves of the wood." Kal'Talarn seemed slightly downcast as he spoke of his father, the change in mood enough to tell of what happened. Elric nodded slowly, the cigar smoldering in his hand as he removed it to speak more clearly, "Such is our way. It's noble in its own right, but once you take those first steps, you are only walking into your own grave. Never lose sight of your goal though, for that is when everything you strive for is nothing." In the distance Elric sighted a traveler on the way to the settlement from The Aviary, too soon to tell who they were and what business they were about. With the growing darkness surrounding it, The Aviary shone as a beacon with its arcane lights, even in darkness it represented the good of its people. The image of the diamond spires shining despite the night swiftly falling reminded him of his past, and how suitable the imagery was.

Kal'Talarn seemed confused by Elric's last statement, clearly under the same impression all the other new-bloods were defined by. "But aren't we just sell-swords? I thought all we did was fight for whoever pays us?" Elric let out a slight chuckle, all at once amused by the naivety of the younger man, and disappointed with him. "No, we are not simple sell-swords. We may be mercenaries, but we have our code of honor, and we have our principles. I knew of your father, though when we fought you were just a name and an intention. Your father was a great man, but in the end he was betrayed by one of our own. We never saw it coming, never thought that we could be sold out." He looked up from his introspection, the traveler now much closer than before. Above the city the shapes of airborne Caelistine could be seen just barely in the distance, Elric lowering his voice to a whisper, "Even Angels fall, and when they do, they have the farthest to go."

"And then you have the ones like Novaus," came a strong feminine voice approaching from the darkness of lands opposite from the Aviary. If her voice were not indication enough, her figure would have been. The black buckskin coat, tied off at her waist, clung to her slim and curvy body. Her pants a navy blue, and her boots, though up to her thighs, were thick with portions formed of hardened leather. Her hair black as jet and her eye blood red. But her most recognizable feature however were her bat-like wings. A mercenary born of the Dalimos, her polished silver arm band with the Caelestine Sun Symbol inlaid with diamonds indicated her status as a Dalimos given permission to operate in Caelestine lands. She let out a short sigh and sat on the ground behind the pair, "That man protected the Children of Kanas in spite of being one of the most severely injured people to come out from that, and then spends the money he makes on charities for the sick, the poor, and the families of mercs who have met their end."

Elric looked up to regard the Dalimos woman with obvious distaste, his years of fighting the more rogue elements of their kind tainting his view of their entire people. "Novaus is a true hero indeed, but let's remember who started the tragedy of Kanas, Eraslyn. There would still be a port city there if it weren't for the actions of supposed rogue Dalimos elements." He spit in derision as he finished the statement.

Her brows furled angrily, "May I remind you that it was the more disciplined of my Dalimos brothers who arrived to save who could survive their injuries that day." Getting back to her feet, absently brushing the dust from the back of her coat, she continued, almost yelling, "That it was one of feathers who did that... that it was an angel that killed my family and my friends!" Tears became visible in her eyes, her pain apparent as the city consumed in dark flames reflected in her memory.

His scowl diminished slightly as she was obviously pained by the events, and for a moment he felt as though perhaps he had mis-stepped here. "Apologies, I have spent too many years on the Cruentai borders patrolling against renegades of the Dalimos"

Wiping the tears from her eyes, "Everyone suffered that day... including demons." Finishing a last sniffle, she then steeled herself. "Regardless, I've come here at the Blind Seer's request."

Elric was slightly intrigued by her statement, as he himself was here to ensure the safety of another, though for differing reasons. "The Blind Seer? You have come to assist lady Seraphina on her journey?"

Her eyes widened at this inquiry, "What... a demon escorting an angel to be?" She then let out a hearty laugh, even throwing her head back. "I don't think there is one instance in recorded history of that happening." She chuckled a little bit more before pulling out a small scroll. "But you are correct in that my business here pertains to the Lady Lunasdiei."

He turned more fully to regard her, a slight smile forming, "Well then, daemon, I suppose that I should introduce myself, since I also intend to ensure the safe passage of Lady Seraphina. I am Elric Aradryan, mercenary for hire, and patrolman of the Cruentai borders."

She nodded briefly and bowed in introduction, "Eraslyn Miera, Supercian Merc and bounty hunter, and presently delivery girl for the 'Blind Beauty', I was to catch Seraphina as she began her journey on her friend's behalf, and deliver this missive."

"A message from the Blind Seer for me?" Called out a voice excitedly from the darkness. The traveler from the distance was now running towards the gathered crowd outside the tavern. Her statuesque features becoming apparent in the low light shining through from the windows.

The arrival of Seraphina brought Elric to his feet immediately, the older mercenary taking a slight bow towards her as she joined the group. "My lady, greetings on this first day of your pilgrimage. I am Elric Aradryan, and I am here to humbly offer my services to you on your long journey to the Citadel." Kal'Talarn also stood hurriedly, though he made himself out to more of a bumbling fool in his rush to make himself look professional. "And I am Kal'Talarn, Sir Elric's apprentice." Elric had half a mind to swing around and knock the kid senseless for putting him in the fire like this, but knew that he couldn't make himself look a fool for putting the kid down. It would not do well to create tension at this first meeting between him and Seraphina, and it was imperative that he saw to her safety across the Pilgrim's Path. Kal'Talarn would simply have to make himself useful and not die on the way.

She bowed hastily before the duo, as the demon chuckled behind the two. "Many thanks you two." She then looked over the trio as a whole, taking their varied features. One seemed an aged veteran of combat, the one who proclaimed himself the elder's apprentice certainly looked the part of someone who was fresh from training. Beyond the two stood the menacing outline of a winged daemoness, and though her figure suggested possibly being a succubus, her clothing told the story of adventure. Her own father having told her stories of working alongside members of Dalimos, and knowing the Blind Seer counted a few among them as her own friends, she was not frightened in the least. She then smiled cheerfully, introduced herself formally, "I am Seraphina Lunasdiei, daughter of the late Seraphim Galric, and acting Patron Guardian of the town of Triluna..." She then paused, mulling over that last thought for a moment, "Oh, rather I will be once I have returned from my Pilgrimage"

Eraslyn smiled warmly, having herself a few fond memories of the Seraphim that frequented her home town.

Elric spared a glance towards Kal'Talarn, a short and swift glare telling the boy all he needed to know before returning his attention to Seraphina and the daemon. "Have confidence, for my mace will be in hand for this journey, and I know the lands of the Cruentai/Dalimos borders well. We will see you safely across the continent and back, you have my oath as a mercenary." Kal'Talarn nodded in agreement, the realization of what he had jumped into slowly dawning on him. "If you don't mind" Elric continued, "It would be best to get underway as soon as possible, for word travels fast that the daughter of Honoured Galric is traveling beyond the protecting of Caelist." As if to emphasize the point, he collected his equipment from the ground at his feet, strapping the heavy pack to his back and looping the handle of his mace into his belt.

"Oh... yes, I suppose it would be a good idea to head on out soon," she responded hastily.

"Whoa there kiddo," came a sassy voice from behind the two men. The Daemoness held the scroll out to the young Caelist, "Your message, express from the Blind Seer herself... penned by Novaus mind you, but I confirmed the message was to the young lady's liking."

As if to give Eraslyn greater leverage over the pacing of the pilgrimage's start, Seraphina's stomach began to growl.

Letting out a chuckle, the winged woman suggested they step into the tavern for a bite to eat while discussing the contents of the letter. She took the lead and held the door open for the rest of the group, looking the rookie in the eye and sarcastically stating "Ladies first."

Kal'Talarn looked confused for a moment, and then slightly downcast as he caught on to the joke, but began to move towards the door anyways. A hand grabbed hold of his collar and nearly put him flat on his back, the younger man looking back to find Elric at the other end of the arm. "If you two would like to proceed, me and my 'Apprentice' need to discuss a few things regarding the journey." Despite the worried look that Kal'Talarn gave, Elric nodded reassuringly, "Tell the barkeep to put everything on my tab, he'll know me by name."

The two girls stepped into the tavern, many of the older patrons conversing cheerfully looked towards the door, one of the shouted out excitedly to the newcomers, "Hey Eraslyn! What are you doing this far into Lumminalux?"

Another followed on, "And whose your friend... don't tell me you'll be the first Daemon to accompany an angel to be?"

Laughter broke out around the table. Leading the statuesque girl towards the bar by the hand, she glanced over at the small gathering, "I'm afraid to disappoint boys, but she and I only just met to discuss urgent business. But when we're done, I'll go a round or two with you geezers!"

"Cheers!"

The Caelist looked on in confusion. Often tales were told of young dashing mercenaries, but she saw gathered here a cheerful bunch of old men, obviously geared out for dangerous work, some looking the age most humans would choose to retire. And oddly enough the younger of the group simply looked on in silence, as if they had seen a ghost earlier and it had drained the energy from them. "An interesting bunch in here."

"Don't mind them, most of them are silly... I think hit in the head a few times, but still good men." The Daemon then turned to the barkeep; "Got any potato and beef stew, Elric said to put it on his tab."

One of the men yelled out, "Boy was that a mistake!" Laughter broke out once again among the group.

The Daemon then handed the young woman the scroll, "Enchanted so that only you can open it, so don't wait on me."

Taking the scroll, Seraphina searched for the seal, then unrolled it and read through the message.

"To my good friend, there has been so much you have done for me in the years since Kanas, but there has been so few opportunities for me to repay the debt. And so I send this message in haste, I've heard that you have committed yourself to follow in the footsteps of your father and become and ascend. That you intend to travel to the Featherkeeper's Citadel. I ask only that you take a few steps out of the way and meet me at Keranlus so that I may begin to repay the debt owed for so long."

Sincerely..."

And then in the final line, an illegible signature. "Hehe, that silly girl... she still insists on signing her own letters." She turned to her demonic companion, an empty bottle already before her and waving the bartender over, presumably to ask for another one. "Um... are you sure he won't mind you buy so much in drink?"

Eraslyn spared her a glance, "If he doesn't know, he'll have to learn." She then turned her fact fully while smiling closed eye.

The barkeep arrived with another bottle for the daemoness, and put a bowl of soup in front of Seraphina.

Outside the tavern Elric stared down Kal'Talarn, who was by now starting to regret shoehorning himself into the group. "I kinda fucked up, didn't I?" He said sheepishly, trying not to look Elric in the eyes, but the glare drawing him back anyways. "Yeah, kid. You did." He stated rather bluntly, "Now look here, if you're going to pretend to be my apprentice, you're going to have to act like one. When I say to do something, do it. Also, you aren't allowed to die. That's an order." Though the ridiculousness of the statement was without question, Kal'Talarn got the impression that Elric was dead serious, a slow nod giving Elric the affirmation that he was looking for.

"Good, now your first task." With a single movement, he slid the pack off his shoulders and tossed it to the younger merc, who was not at all prepared for the heavy pack. "Carry my equipment. Don't drop it either, my armor is in there." He was about to head into the tavern himself when he noticed that the boy was struggling with the pack, a look of impatience on his face as he waited for him. Finally, the pack secure, the two started towards the tavern again, but stopped short of the door.

"Let me make something else very clear." Elric said, his voice low so as not to travel between the two of them. "This is a very important mission, understand? We're escorting Lady Seraphina to the Citadel at the request of a very close friend, his last request of me before we parted ways. If you endanger this mission, there will be no end to what lengths I will go to make you pay for it. Her life is more important than your own, swear to me that you will do your best to see this mission succeed."

Kal'Talarn nodded hurriedly, almost making the warrior's salute, but unable to due to the heavy pack, "I swear to the Mercenary's Code that I will see the mission through."

The two men walked into the tavern, a quick salute from Elric to the table of veterans returned by a cheer and raised mugs, and the younger mercs staring at Kal'Talarn with a mixture of jealousy and awe. Elric took his seat next to Seraphina, while Kal'Talarn set the equipment down at his feet on the other side near Eraslyn. The barkeep had seen Elric enter and brought him a drink, Elric passing a couple of gold coins to the barkeep as thanks and partial payment towards his tab. "So then, we are set to head out soon?" He asked of Seraphina.

Seraphina took a swallow of the soup and wiped her lips before turning to the Elric, "Yes, I wish to get started out as soon as possible... but we're going to have to take something of a detour if it is no problem to you?"

"To KERANLUS!!!" Shouted Eraslyn excitedly, 3 bottles emptied before her already.

"Uh... yes, the city that has the portal in it," responded the Caelist, embarrassed of the daemon's cheer.

Elric eyed the daemon warily as she burst out with the destination, inadvertently knocking Kal'Talarn off balance in her excitement. "Yes, It is on the way anyways. Should be of no consequence to the journey at hand, and prove excellent for stocking up supplies. If we are done here, then let us be on our way." He snapped his fingers at Kal'Talarn and gave him a quick disapproving glance "Apprentice, gather the equipment, let's be off."

Ikran - Ceciderunt Dea

Seraphina had been traveling on foot a few hours. The sun had risen higher into the sky, but still a few hours off from noon. At some point, she had started to skip as opposed to walking, and she didn't much care to figure out precisely when that happened. All that mattered to her was what lay ahead. Growing up in Triluna, and later the Aviary, she met and knew many angels and always marveled at their majesty. Her own father was also an angel, a Seraphim at that, and many an hour was spent softly patting the feathers on his six wings in envy.

But now she has started her own Pilgrimage to see the Featherkeeper. She pondered on who all she'd meet along the way. Her own father first met the King and many of his own friends in this manner.

Who would she meet along this journey, could they be friends... could any of them live for as long as she will if the Featherkeeper decides to grant her the wings she has longed for the whole of her childhood? She stopped a moment and pondered on that last thought. It was something that struck deeply at many angels, the loss of shorter lived friends as the centuries pass by. Her race was a passionate and emotional one, but there are still those who find themselves scarred by loss and time. Perhaps that is why the Ageless Seraphim reside in the Featherkeeper's Citadel, so as to avoid making friends they would surely lose to the ravages of time, even the younger Seraphim would wither away by comparison to them. She pitied them to a degree even. And then there was the Featherkeeper as well, who was senior even to her esteemed goddess.

"Perhaps I could spare a small conversation with them all?" The said meekly to herself. Then her faced brightened as she proclaimed "but first thing's first, I have to make it there!"

Ahead on the cobbled path was a settlement set beyond the outskirts of the Aviary. A common hang out for mercenaries of various types, including those Dalimos whose licenses were accepted by the Caelestine, though their services are rarely ever used, a few still dream to serve escort for an angel. More common are the humans, unawakened Caelest and the Cruentai blades for hire. She heard as well at the occasional foreigner from beyond the portal in Keranlus have begun to show up there as well. She was particularly fascinated with the idea of meeting an elf, she had heard the elves in Nexulai, while every bit as rigid, were at least friendly enough not to put an arrow through your eye at 400 yards like the Sylvashians. There were also the Averians... muscular, tall, walking and talking bird people. She was curious to hear one sing, she always enjoyed the singing of the birds that flutted about the Aviary, and though the Averians apparently forsake the ability to fly in ages past, surely they'd never surrender their ability to sing, right?

Then her mind was set back to the task at hand as she resumed her skipping along the road again. She needed to hire a mercenary to guide her through to the Blades Rim Caldera. A scent wafted into the air about her, a succulent roast was being prepared somewhere and her stomach rumbled to accentuate what the mind had already been thinking. Her legs went back to a proper walk, and slowly gained paced. She was hungry, and so she decided to take care of eating first, then she'd seek out prospective guides. The humble stone buildings in the distance quickly grew nearer.

Ikran - Ceciderunt Dea

There were two mountains sitting on the flanks of the grand city of Nexulai, both known to the city's inhabitants as Sort'Vol and Wek'Vol. Wek'Vol overlooked the metropolis from the west. It was sparsely populated, to the point where some didn't even consider it to be part of the city proper. To the northeast was Sort'Vol, which had a much higher population, and for good reason; Sort'Vol was unique in that it gave researchers an excellent vantage point from which researchers could identify the potential locations of new rifts via high altitude triangulation and detectable energy flows. It also helped that both sides of the mountain provided incredible views, with one side overlooking the Crater Citadel, along with the rest of the city, while the other side faced off into the distant horizon, where the sun could be seen sinking below the earth late in the day. Because of these factors, Sort'Vol was very popular with scientists, entrepeneurs and various other upper-class members of Nexulaian society.

It just so happened that Aiden Toft was born into such a family. He strolled along the path leading to his estate. It was a three-story manor, the rich red brickwork contrasting well against the serene shades of greens belonging to the grass, trees and other foliage surrounding it. Several mullioned windows were crafted into the walls of the building, spread out evenly on both floors. A pair of Gothic pinnacles were planted on the ogee roofs on each side of the building. The manor was reasonably large, but not ludicrously so. The average citizen would certainly be impressed with it, but Aiden had definitely seen fancier residences in this neighborhood. Not that he desired such an extravagant, conspicuous mansion for a home. This manor served his family well enough over the past several years, and he couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

Speaking of which, that was why Aiden had traveled back here, not just to retrieve his gear and prepare for the journey, but also to inform his parents, Stefan and Morgan Toft, of his new assignment. They were both among Nexulai's top scientific officials on the rifts. In fact, their past studies were vital in improving Nexulai's ability to control the portals' stability. As a result, they had a large influence on Aiden's interests as he grew up.

The explorer stepped up to the manor's large wooden entrance, taking the house key out of his pocket and unlocking it before slipping inside. One would expect to find a grand lobby, complete with dual staircases leading to the upper floor, but that was not the case here; instead, the entrance led to a rather narrow corridor with several doors on the side walls leading to other rooms on the ground floor. The stairs were a bit further down a hall leading towards the right end of the building from an T-shaped intersection at the end of the entrance corridor.

"Mom, dad?" Aiden called out as he shut the door behind him, "I'm home! Got some news to share, so..." He trailed off as he waited for a muffled reply from one of the other rooms, only to hear none. "Hm." They had to be home; Aiden made sure to come back after the end of their shifts, which left him with two possibilities; either they were held up by an unexpected occurence, or they were on a higher floor. Placing his bet on the latter possibility, he traveled to the stairs, but before he ascended to the second floor, he noticed that the door leading to the parlour was slightly ajar. Pushing the door open, Aiden discovered that his guess was correct.

Sitting around a marble-topped pedestal table were Stefan and Morgan Toft. Aiden took after his father in many ways; both had similar facial structures, physical builds and tan skin tones. However, there were a few notable differences, an example being that Stefan was slightly taller than his son at 6'1". His grey hair was neatly combed, and his face was mostly clean shaven, leaving a thin, simple goatee that encircled his thin lips. He appeared to be in his fifties. His mother had a lighter pigmentation and looked to be in her late forties. Her wavy brown hair reached down to her shoulders. Both of them were dressed in buttoned long sleeve shirts, with Stefan's being of a dark grey color and Morgan's a clean white, along with trousers and loafers.

"Thought I'd find you here," Aiden said with a smirk, which prompted his parents to look up at him in surprise. They were busy discussing the contents on a file Stefan held in his hands when the explorer interrupted them. It seemed that they'd just got off of work, and it was still fresh on their minds. Both of them smiled, glad to push such thoughts to the side in favor of their son.

"Aiden," Exclaimed Morgan, leaning forward in her seat with an keen look in her eyes, "We were just wondering when you would be coming home!"

"Indeed! It's been a long day for us both, as you can probably tell," Stefan cut in as Aiden pulled out a chair across from the couple to sit in, "Of course, no doubt you've had quite the eventful day yourself. Please, tell us how the meeting went!"

Aiden chuckled nervously. He remembered telling his parents about his scheduled meeting with the Grand Ambassador shortly after receiving the news. To say that they were surprised was quite the understatement; rather, they were struck speechless for almost a minute. They didn't know how to feel about it. They knew that their son had talent, but to attract the eye of Sokolniki himself? It didn't help that none of them knew anything of the meeting's subject matter, so they didn't know what to expect. Eventually, they settled on an odd mix of pride and apprehension. Now, with their son back home safe and sound, they were eager to learn the truth.

How would he go about it? Aiden had been bestowed with a great honor. He would be considered a genuine pioneer among his peers for being the first man to record such an important Caelestine ritual in person. He wanted some time to think his approach through, but his parents' stares prevented him from doing so. There was no other way around it; he just hoped it wouldn't give them a heart attack.

"Well..." Aiden started with a sigh, "it went well. Great, actually...the Ambassador personally gave me my first assignment."

"...Are you serious?" Stefan asked, intrigued, "That's...wow. Executive orders are a rare thing to see from the Grand Ambassador... so, what kind of assignment is it?" He smirked. "What, did he set aside an unknown realm just for you?"

"Heh, no, no, but it is a big one. Huge, really...I'm going to be heading to Ceciderunt Dea."

His parents turned to each other briefly, unsure of what to make of what they had heard so far. The lands of Ceciderunt Dea had been covered extensively by other explorers in the past, and both the Caelestine and Dalimos did much to help inform Akreaus of their world. There were still many secrets to find in that world, especially those concerning magic, but neither Stefan or Morgan could guess at what Aiden's assignment could possibly be, if it was as huge as he described.

"Really now? Fascinating. You know, we've been meaning to set some time aside for us to visit The Aviary at some point when work starts to let up, but I suppose you'll be beating us to the punch," Morgan ruminated, chuckling a bit at the end.

"Well... I wouldn't say I've beaten you there. I highly doubt I'll even set foot in the Aviary. I'm actually heading to the Blade Rim Caldera."

That wiped Morgan's smile off of her face. Now she looked confused, and a bit worried. "What for? That's a long trek, and it's through-"

"Dalimos territory, I know," Aiden interrupted, "But I won't be alone. I'm going to be traveling with a Caelestine and some others. We'll be acting as her guardian as she travels on her Pilgrimage...my job is to observe her ascension, record my findings." He leaned towards his parents with a wide smile on his face. "I'm going to be the first Akreausian ever to witness such an event...pretty wild, wouldn't you say?"

For a long time, Stefan and Morgan sat there in silence, staring at Aiden. He worried that it would be a repeat of last time, but he was quickly proven wrong when his mother suddenly rose out of her seat. "Oh god," She breathed, quickly circling the table towards her son, who rose up to meet her as she took him into a tight embrace. Stefan quickly followed suit. Aiden awkwardly returned the hug. Once he was finally released, he noticed his mother's tearful grin. His father's reaction wasn't as strong, but his joyful grin was more than enough.

"Aiden...after you finished your training... god," Stefan spoke softly, struggling to find the right words to say, "We thought you would be sent to... to follow up and add onto the findings of a previous expedition or some such. We would've been perfectly happy with that, but this...this goes beyond all my expectations. Er, not to insinuate that you, you aren't-"

"No, no dad, it's fine," Aiden replied with a hearty laugh, "I didn't expect much more than that either. I am a greenhorn, after all..." That actually made him start to doubt himself a little.

"Yeah...this is so much better than that, Aiden," Morgan cut in, wiping her tears, "This path you're about to take, it won't be anyone's but yours! Years from now, all our knowledge gathered on the Pilgrimage, no matter how much it's expanded upon, it will all be based on the source: you."

"This is a major undertaking, son. Sokolniki's asking you to be a true pioneer. Do you believe that you can handle this responsibility?" Stefan asked, his expression turned serious. Aiden paused for a few seconds, mulling over the implications of this task. It would be unknown territory, and it could potentially result in a very messy death for him if things went south, but really, all explorers faced such a risk. It helped that he would have a party to rely on along the way, ensuring that, whatever he would face in Ceciderunt Dea, he wouldn't face it alone.

"...Yes. I can handle it. I know it."

---

Aiden spent the rest of the day gathering the supplies necessary for his survival on the journey and studying the geography, history, races and cultures of Ceciderunt Dea as much as he possibly could within a single day. It was all truly fascinating to him, and he couldn't wait to encounter it first-hand. The next morning, he bade his family farewell and left Sort'Vol for the last time before beginning his quest. It did hurt to leave his parents behind like this, but regardless, Aiden proudly walked towards Libere District, a confident smile on his face the entire time.

He would never forget his father's parting words:

"For the past twenty years, we've had the pleasure of watching you grow up to be an incredibly bright, driven young man. We've always supported you and your dreams...and nothing pleases us more than to see them realized. From this day forward, you will be one of the few who will guide our people into the great unknown, paving the way to a better future for us all. We are so proud of you. Go on, son... infinity lies within your grasp."

Ikran - Ceciderunt Dea

The Blind Seer strode through the streets with the towering figure of her bodyguard walking astride her. Many people would turn and look at her out of curiosity or in amazement.
Konsa burst out of the small alley, glancing in several directions. He knew the tall man would be after him soon.

The angel's unseen gaze latched onto someone. She could see the outpouring of emotion from the people around them. Most were filled with a sense of wonder as they looked upon her, others were with a sense of impatience, likely hoping for the crowd that had gathered around her to disperse so that they may themselves continue going about their business. But someone had bursted out from a nearby ally filled with a sense of fear and urgency.

He slowed to a light jog, not wanting to gather too much attention from the other people. Konsa breathed a sigh of relief as he saw a big crowd. It was easy for him to disappear into crowds because of his short height and stealth skills. He pushed through most, wanting to further himself from the oncoming danger and just blend in at the moment. When he reached towards the center he tensed. A small gasp of surprise as he realized why the big crowd was there in the first place. "B-blind Seer?" He murmured to himself, not expecting to see anyone like her here.

The woman's gaze was locked on the fearful presence before her. She took a step forward, concerned about this person. Her voice, sweet and with a hint of panic, filled the air, "Is everything alright?" As she did so, the crowd parted around whoever it was she was addressing.

Konsa practically wilted under her invisible gaze, especially since a lot of others who looking upon him. He was speechless for a second, terrified of all the attention and the angry voice that was getting louder every second. At this rate he wasn't going to get a clean get away. He would have to leave this place and possible take another portal. Konsa shuddered at the thought, wanting to avoid that outcome. "U-um, Yes!" He stuttered out, already moving to push through the crowd; out of the spotlight. He was afraid of how far the Blind Seer could see of inside; Konsa could barely stand the thought.

Novaus stepped out from behind the angel and made his way towards the frightened demon. The silver winged beauty turned towards him, seeing only the growing dread in the demon. "Novaus, stop it! Your frightening the poor thing."

His own gaze has become fixed on the demon before him. "Except that until now, he never even spared me a glance. It's you who is scaring him." His every step with purpose, he made his way closer. "And I intend to find out why." With his armored hand, he grasped the stunned Konsa by the horn and forced him to look him in the eye. "What mischief has a little imp like you gotten himself into?"

Konsa yelped mainly out of surprise but also the uncomfortable feeling of having his horn grasped so harshly. He struggled, trying to twist or wiggle his way out of this whole thing. "I-I'm sorry! I wasn't doing anything!" He lied immediately, Konsa had no dignity if he thought it would mean he would survive. Although his heart dropped when he heard that outraged voice right behind him. "He's the one who took my wallet!" Konsa knew the jig was up.

Novaus looked towards his blind companion, her usually pleasant face was twisted into a frown. It was all the proof he needed. He turned back to the struggling demon. "You were afraid of her earlier. You know who she is and most likely know what she can do." He chuckled a little to himself now. "I actually find it a little bit amusing that you still tried to lie so blatantly." He laughed a little bit more, then purposely halted it suddenly and narrowed his gaze on the demon that struggled weakly in his grasp.

Well since the man he pickpocketed him was right there and he was caught my the Blind Seer and her companion of all people Konsa decided he had slim to no chances of escaping. He growled like a cornered an animal; despising that laugh. Konsa bucked against his grip on his horn, at the same time kicking out behind him at the one whom he stole from. Konsa heard a pained grunt, knowing he landing one on the shin with his sudden kick.

With a swing of his arm and a flick of his wrist, the mercenary tossed the young demon towards the center of the clearing. Already, the Blind Seer was backing up, and pleading to her bodyguard. "Novaus, cease this at once."

By now he had one hand on the handle of his rapier, and his other hand now grasped the dagger sheathed in his gauntlet. "Looks to me this one is itching for a fight, I just want to indulge him." He swept his right leg outward, and settled it behind him and bent his forward knee. His blades remaned in their scabbards, but he was more than ready.

Konsa landed with a pained grunt, snarling in rage. He breathed heavily, mind racing for any chances out of this situation. Konsa had difficulty calming himself down to clear his head, especially with this bodyguard hovering over him. "L-let me go!" He yelled, claws digging into the ground.

A flash of silver streaked between the pair, the Angel had before Novaus. Her brows were now furled angrily just above the cloth covering her eyes. "Cease this at once, and hear me out!"

The towering man paused for a moment, and then released his hold on the rapier. His hands remained on his gauntlet dagger. "Hmph... very well then milady."

Konsa held back another growl of anger, shooting a glare at the Blind Seer's bodyguard as he climbd to his feet. He glanced out of the corner of his eyes, debating whether or not to make another break for it. He was quite fast, but he was pretty sure Blind Seer had already anticipated this possiblity.

She bowed deeply to her companion before turning around to the thief behind her with pleading eyes, "I can see you are filled with desperation, even as you were fleeing into this crowd... but there is no need for thievery if you had but to ask the right people for help."

He couldn't bring himself to respond, instead just tried to appear as vicious as possible. Although Konsa wasn't quite giving off that impression. His hands were shaking before he had gripped the hand of his cloak tightly, twisting the cloth in an anxious gesture. His head was dipped towards the ground, managing to at least give a glare towards Blind Seer as a response.

"If you are too nervous to ask, then are you willing to accept a hand that offers to help?" she said in a reassuring voice, reach out to him with one hand open with the palm up. "Please do, being caught by the Nexulai Elven Trackers would be the least of your problems." In the distance sporadic whistling could be heard coming ever closer, and behind the angel, Novaus could be see tensing up and narrowing his gaze on the demon. "They don't call him the 'Black Bolt from Kanas' for nothing."

He gulped, taking a shaking deep breath as he shifted from foot to foot. Konsa decided it would be okay to take this risk, it was definitely less risky then just running for it right now. Besides Blind Seer offered kindness Konsa constantly craved for. So he gave in, hesitantly taking her hand. "O-okay..." He murmured under his breath, barely audible; his gaze dropped to the ground.

"You aren't serious about this are you" came the raspy voice from behind her.

She smiled, "I'm very serious... but first, I do believe you have something that doesn't belong to you... and also you do owe that man back there an apology."

Konsa growled again, but still complied with Blind Seer's wishes. He slowly grabbed the stolen wallet from his sidepocket turning to face the one whom he stole it from. Konsa held it, taking one last longing look at the money before it was snatch away. It's owner stomped away in a huff, still angry but satisfied to have his property back.

The sound of whistles were now upon them and the Nexulai City Guards were now pushing through the crowd. The Captain seemed a seasoned veteran. A pale face, his hair pulled back in a short pony tail and his ears pointed sharply to the back. His armor consisted of metal shoulder guards and gauntles, and heavy steel plated shin guards. These were worn over a blue overcoat made from a heavy material. The Nexulai Enforcement Badge was a very reflective blue and red vortex like symbol. "Alright, what is going on here?"

Konsa frowned deeply, once again twisting the hand of his cloak. He glanced back at Blind Seer for reassurance, she wouldn't turn him in right? Konsa fretted, fidgetting as he kept an eye out for possible escape routes if needed.

The mercenary stepped up behind the young demon, taking his hand of the gauntlet dagger and put his hands on Konsa's shoulder. The Blind Seer turned to the guard as her companion did so and proclaimed to the guard Captain, "This here is a citizen of Ceciderunt Dea. His actions this day were in clear violation of the terms of being permitted through the portal. As such, his privileges in regards to portal travel have been revoked and he shall be taken back to his home immediately."

The mercenary tightened his grip in a protective and reassuring manner. "In other words, this one is under our protection and his disciplining shall be at our discretion.
"

The captain demanded to see papers regarding the angels apparent authority. Having walked up and handed a few pieces of paper for the man to look through, he nodded and gave her a salute. "Keep your people under control better next time... and screen them better before letting them cross over."

She smiled politely and nodded. "The Dalimos citizens can be a little more troublesome than we'd like, and for that I do apolgize."

Soon the Captain had his men set to disperse the crowd before leading them away, likely to take up there assigned posts once more. Some could be seen talking amongst themselves as they glanced back for another peek at the silver winged angel.

Konsa was startled by the sudden physical touching and gritted his teeth, not sure how he felt about it. He flinched at the thought of returning, breath quickening in panic. Konsa managed to keep his cool as the Captain and the crowd turned their attention elsewhere. Taking another shaky breath, struggling to calm himself down. He would figure this all out, it was too early to jump to conclusions.

Konsa slipped from the mercernary's hands, turning to face and Blind Seer. "I suppose I should thank you." He mumbled, avoiding eye contact that was longer then a second. Although he couldn't escape Blind Seer's gaze, it still unnerved him now and he shifted from foot to foot.

The tall man released the little demon and took a few steps back as the Blind Seer turned to regard the thief.

"Now then, on to the matter of you," stated the angel as she turned. "I don't want to turn you over to Captain Elise. She'd ship you to Hellrise in a heart beat."

Novaus nodded in agreement, "Well, after she's had her own fun with you first. I hear she's fond of skinning the has as punishment for thievery.

Konsa cringed, "Like hell I'm turning myself in." He murmured to himself, his words harsh but his voice very quiet. He was still murmuring to himself, almost forgeting those two wore there before snapping his attention back to them.

Her brows then raised, as though curious. "The northern territories of Dalimos between the Cruentai and Blades Rim Borders... how familiar with it are you?"

Konsa narrowed his eyes, "Well, uh, I've been a lot of parts of the Dalimos territory. I traveled frequently since a young age." He scratched the back of his head, "I think I know it all right... Why?"

Novaus immediately protested, "You don't mean to... my lady, I must disagree!"

"Your own knowledge is limited my old friend. It is the most dangerous leg of the journey and I'd rather Seraphina have a guide that knows the way to be with her." She then tilted her head. Her hand came up to her chin, as though trying to conjure a specific thought. "Three months, wasn't it.

The mercenary crossed his arms and shut his eyes. "You know there are other guides available. But at the same time it seems that for whatever reason, you are going to insist on it being this one. I'm guessing you can't figure another way to keep this poor sap from ending up in the Elder Unbrek's clutches.

He then turned towards the subject of the conversation. "So then, what say you. Have any means of getting out of the ensnaring web the Blind Seer has cast upon you."

"When you say it like that, you make me seem like a manipulative witch!?" she exclaimed angrily.

Konsa fidgetted, this did seem like an okay deal for now at least. "Um, okay..." He was hesitant in his response, he was still unsure why Blind Seer was even making this offer for him. He wasn't very reliable, and who said he wasn't go to take off when he was sure he had a fair chance? Konsa wouldn't admit it to anyone, not even himself but he had been suffering from a suffocating loneliness ever since he left the academy of magics and the professor. Konsa swallowed and managed a shaky smile. "What could go wrong?"

Ikran - Ceciderunt Dea

On a path, a few miles from Keranlus
Near the Eastern Boarder, Lumminalux Province

---

Fresh air filled Vaernya's lungs, the smell of blooming Neora flowers drifting over the low hills from the north, lifting her mood with each new breath. A frayed string flitted around in the calm breeze, tickling her brow in an irritating manner. The slim Cruentai lifted a gloved hand and gave a firm tug on the string, pulling it from its source and then held it up for inspection. Blue eyes observed the tiny thread dangling before them, thoughts dancing behind their gaze.
"This cloak shows its age at last. It seems there is an endless amount of loose thread appearing from any and every seam. Perhaps it's time to replace this too, like so much else I have refreshed in my life." Her brow furrowed, as she released the black thread into the beckoning breeze, she watched as it drifted away and eventually out of site. "Lost in the breeze, taken to far away places far from home. Like me..."

She stopped walking, her body lingering in the decision to turn around, to look back. Though she knew she would see nothing but land and horizon she struggled to come to terms with what was behind her. "One deep breath, that's all you need to keep going." So she filled her lungs again, savouring the scent the enveloped the area, and she turned her body to face the north-east horizon. Releasing the air from her lungs she lifted her gaze from the dirt path and met the scene before her.

"Beyond those low hills, beyond all the plains and forests, is my past. Beyond what I see is who I once was, who I left behind. So why am I looking back? Do I miss it already; my sub par life of seclusion, devoid of companionship and joy? The nightmares that haunt me every night? The ghostly echo of my own bones breaking and the stains left by my blood and tears? What a meagre existence I led... No. I led no life, I died that night. And I walked dead for 7 years until I gathered the courage to start a new life. There is nothing to look back at, I have all I need here. My true friend is by my side, my mind still holds sanity if even a little, and my skills will not fail me."

Vaernya opened her right hand that dangled at her side, previously clenched into a fist. A high pitched whistle floated eerily from her pale lips. She waited a moment, her hand grasping slightly for something that was not there. No more than a minute later the soft sound of paws hitting earth came up from behind her and a thick, bristly coat of fur filled the empty space in the palm of her gloved hand. "Dear Bane, my dearest friend. You seem to be enjoying the air as much as I am." She scratched the massive canine's head, gazing down into golden yellow eyes. "We've almost made it, Keranlus should be just a few hours away. I haven't the slightest clue as to what we'll do when we arrive. What I do know is that it's a change; something fresh and new filled with sights and people we've never seen before."

She turned again to face the direction she was originally headed, glimpsing at her shadow before doing so. "The sun should be setting right around the time we arrive, what a lovely coincidence." She itched at a spot on her neck being irritated by what appeared to be another loose thread. "I can't wait to get this damn cloak off, let's go." Bane let out a low huff as the dark female picked up to a brisk walk and collected his place at her side, matching her pace.

There were a million haunting and confusing thoughts in Vaernya's mind as she continued her trek towards the great city of Keranlus. What was she seeking really? A change, yes. A fresh start, yes. Fresh blood? What?

"Argh, no! No!" She grumbled, feeling the creeping grip of her primitive urge slither into her mind. It had been almost a week since she last tasted the blood of a man. To make matters worse, she had used up the last of her cattle blood supply a few hours back on the road. Though she was not hungry per say, she could feel the crave for fresh blood swelling up inside her. The longer she ignored it the more she noticed her throat was beginning to dry, her head beginning to pound. "I'm stronger than this... this is of my past." She continued to walk, humming an old Cruentain lullaby aloud, trying to concentrate only on her voice and the steady pace of her stride. Her heart beat seemed to grow louder and louder, the sound stimulating memories of pulsing, gushing blood pouring from a freshly opened vein. Her mouth began to water, her pupils dilating. She could feel her body tensing and the ancient instinct of her kind ripped at her willpower.

"NO! Ah! Enough already!" She took off at a run, her speed noticeably above average. She closed her eyes, peaking them open only to ensure she stayed on the trail. The thudding feeling of her feet connecting with the earth became rhythmic, adding to the steady pant of her ebony companion. Slowly the overwhelming urge began to subside, though she did not let up on her pace. She needed to get to the city, she needed to get away from the monster inside of her. Perhaps doubling up on cow's blood servings would help keep away the blood thirsty inhabitant that haunted her reflection.

Ikran - Ceciderunt Dea

For Konsa it had been a very long day. He already felt like he was going to pass out from his exhaustion and lack of food. All his thievery attempts today were too risky or he was nearly caught in the act. Konsa was desperate for some coin, for at least one meal. Konsa also looked the part, dark circles under his eyes that would sometimes glaze over and his cheeks seemed to sink in a little bit. He obviously wasn’t at his best, but he hadn’t been for a while. He wasn’t even sure what his best was at this point.
Konsa had been in this city for about a week; he wasn’t even sure what part of Nexulai he was in. He traveled aimlessly, only concerned with distancing himself from the consequences he left back at home. Konsa would occasionally eavesdrop on other travelers, following them to the next city he would stay at a while. He wasn’t confident to go out into the wild all alone and prefer sneaking onto a caravan and other similar things. He had more luck here in Nexulai then back at his home world, mostly because other demons were extremely suspicious of each other, especially where he came from. Although he stuck out more and Konsa had to take more care to cover up his face. He hadn’t figured out at to hide his horns since they have grown a lot bigger and Konsa merely relied on blending into crowds.

As of now Konsa had been leaning against an alley wall, watching the sidewalk from it. He snapped out of his daydream, seeing another foreigner who appeared to be lost. By the way he dressed he was obviously well-off. He was tall and had lightly-colored hair; he kept glancing around himself and at his watch. Konsa immediately started trailing him, trying to figure where he kept his wallet. If someone else was watching it was apparent Konsa was following this man. His eyes were intent on him and he was almost on his heels.

The tall man patted his pockets, wary that he might have been pick-pocketed already. Konsa was still watching intently and was pretty sure the wallet was in his front coat pocket. He let a sigh slip out; this was going to be tricky. Especially since he was barely awake; hunger was what keeping him awake right now. Konsa had to think on his feet, he was his window of opportunity would close soon and he couldn’t let this slip away. He reached up, taking a razor out of his backpack, eyes still on his target. Konsa pushed the razor open, a tight grip as he got ready to pass him by. He kept his head low, and went to the right side of him. Konsa purposefully bumped into him; skillfully cutting the bottom of the pocket open. Konsa caught it silently and continued on his way.

Konsa’s heart was pumping; although he wouldn’t admit it to anyone else he always got a rush of excitement. He took a sharp turn down an alley way; going behind a pile of empty carboard boxes. They had an overwhelming smell of fish; Konsa gagged in disgust and distanced himself from the grungy boxes. He squatted, going through the wallet and finding more than enough money for himself. As he stood back up he heard a yell of anger.
“Uh-oh,” He murmured to himself and turned the opposite direction of the yelling. Konsa was sure the tall man would be looking for him. Konsa slipped the wallet into a side pocket of his backpack and took off jogging. He pulled his mask over the bottom half of his face, hoping this alley wouldn’t be a dead-end. Konsa started to run faster as he heard the shouts get louder; he was stopped by a chain-linked fence. He looked up it and sighed heavily before starting to climb. He fumbled over and jumped down; glancing back to see the tall man running towards. Konsa turned around and darted away; although no one could see it he had a small smile of exhilaration on his lips.

Ikran - Ceciderunt Dea

A small settlement to the east of The Aviary, Ceciderunt Dea

---

Despite the mid-afternoon sun hanging high above the rolling countryside the Tavern still bustled with activity. Various people of differing occupations and species all mingling together on the road that lead from The Aviary and along the Pilgrim's Path, each hoping to be hired by a Caelistine that was making the long pilgrimage to the Featherkeeper. Because of the near constant activity, the tavern was quite well off, and the drinks consistently flowed, leaving none wanting for a mug of ale. Near the back of the tavern a group of mercenaries huddled together and conversed of their past missions and hopes for the next job. The younger men talked animatedly about their prowess, while a couple of the older mercs simply sat back and puffed on imported cigars or stared silently into their ale. "Sir Elric!" one of the younger men, a shorter lad with light blonde hair and intricate facial tattoos had chose to try and get the older merc to talk about his past again. Elric Aradryan sat back with his mug of ale in one hand, and the other on his mace, a sly grin forming around the cigar in his mouth, "Boy, I already told ye, I ain't fer talking much o' me past." Some of the other vets smirked at the light disarming comment, while a couple of the younger lads only felt compelled to ask more.

"Come on, you're a veteran, teach us a few things." The lad was persistent, and to a degree, Elric admired the younger man's spirit. Yet, sometimes spirit could hinder a man's fighting ability and had to be broken. He took out the cigar and stared for a moment at the smoldering tip, the hand-pressed leaves of tobacco dark in the light of the mid-day sun and the glow of the charred tip a deep red. He let out a breath of smoke, the aroma of the cigar drifting lightly across the table. "I could teach you things" the older man began, "but the problem with doing so is that you will never forget the lessons." The younger mercenaries shared a look of confusion for a moment, though some of the more seasoned veterans let the smiles fall from their faces and looked grimly into their drinks, not willing to interfere. "Tell me youngster, have you ever faced a feral Cruentai? Perhaps a Dalimos of one of the rogue tribes?"

The younger man laughed and waved his hand, "Come on Elric, we've all faced the dangers of the Cruentai/Dalimos border-" He was about to continue when Elric flicked a bit of ash towards the upstart. "Be silent." he growled, a hint of danger crawling into his voice as he silenced the younger man. "When you have seen a man broken in half, and hung from the walls of the village he grew up in by his intestines, you will have faced the dangers of the border. When you have seen innocents violated in broad daylight, in front of all that they loved, you will have faced dangers. When you have seen a man fall from the height of what any could hope to achieve.... You will have faced the truth." He took a long draw on the cigar, taking in the stunned faces of the younger mercs, glad to see that they now understood the real dangers of their profession. "Do not think that you are safe because you have a blade. Do not feel protected by that plate of steel. You will die, and it will be painful, but if you call yourself a true man, you will continue to think nothing of your own suffering. You will take up that blade, and don your armor for those who cannot. You will walk into the dangers of the borders, and die with a smile on your face."

Another of the veterans spoke up, raising his glass as he gave the old creed of the mercenary "We are all dead, but have simply not found our grave." A solid round of cheers arose from the veterans and the clink of glass sounded from the clash of their mugs. The younger men were a little more subdued by the veterans and their attitude, but now the vets spoke among themselves of their old days, how things used to be and how things changed since Kanas. Elric stared out the window, The Aviary taking up most of the view with myriad shapes flitting between the floating structures. For a moment he thought of the old days, where he was one of those Caelistine who had taken to the skies above The Aviary, of how he once stood for something greater than just being a mercenary for hire. An old pain flared up in his back as he remembered his past, of his fall from the Aviary, and how he had vowed to regain his place among his people. That was why he was here, in this tavern along the Pilgrim's Path, so that he could ensure that the daughter of an old friend would safely earn her wings, and so that maybe, just maybe, he could redeem himself in the process.

Ikran - Ceciderunt Dea

Crystal Keep, The Royal Citadel
The Aviary, Ceciderunt Dea

---

In the midst of halls carved from a single mass of diamond, lined with statues of the many Seraphim that have lived and some who are still among the living kneels a young woman, her skin as white as alabaster, and her hair the blue of tempered steel, upon a carpet of red that led from the inner-sanctuary and to the gateways of the Royal Citadel. Her enchanted bronze armor reflected magnificently in its brownish color in stark contrast to the prevailing white light that flowed through the gem structure. Before her stood an aging man in golden robes, from his back extended 4 feathered wings of golden luster. "Please young Seraphina, I am not deserving of such a gesture from you."

She shook her head, but her eyes remained averted. "My lord, you are my king and deserve a formal greeting."

The Archangel strode towards the statuesque youth. "Your father was as a brother to me. He remained at my side in even the darkest times, gave to me his strength when I had exhausted my own." He pulled her chin up to bid her to stand. "I am a man who owes a great debt, and the only chance I can ever repay it would be through you."

Shaking her head, she remained as adamant as the walls about her. "I must go through this in the manner prescribed, if I am to prove myself in full to the Lady of the Light and receive her blessings through the Featherkeeper," she said sternly. "Just as my father before!" A tear started to well up in her eye.

The old man shut his eyes. "You have not changed one bit in all the time I have known you." A smile crept across his face, "You obsess over proving yourself to the people of this nation... to me. But you do not need to. We all know the kindness in your heart." He looked up towards the vaulted ceiling high above. "You retain that stubborn devotion to tradition... and law." He turned towards one statue in particular. His six wings unfurled, and holding a scale before him in his right hand, and a book, its pages torn in his off hand. "I suppose it is an opportunity for you to learn the difference between what is law... and what is 'right.'"

He then turned around and faced the young woman. "Very well then, you do what your heart dictates, but please promise me this much; that you will continue to listen to your heart in even the darkest times."

She straightened up an smiled at the fatherly figure, "I will my lord." She turned around and marched out the door leaving the King alone to his thoughts.

He turned back to the statue from before. "She's stubborn like you were old friend. The Lady knows I want to protect that child with all my heart, but I could not in good conscience deny her what she has dreamed to do for all her life." He stood there silently hoping in vain for the statue to agree with him, to assure him that his decision was the correct one. He let out a sigh when no answer came. "I just hope she does not have to carry the weight of regret you once did." He turned back towards the gate as Seraphina vanished from sight. "Because no amount of healing power could ever heal such grief."

---

Seraphina stepped out from the Citadel gates and was immediately basked in the pure morning sun. The wind whipped her hair off to the side as she looked down upon the golden maple planked bridge built upon an enormous steel chain. Several such chains hooked to loops carefully carved into the diamond structure and lead to the ground, anchoring it solidly to the countryside far below. In the distance another diamond floated effortlessly in the sky, and was anchored to the ground in similar fashion. Far below, a city constructed predominantly of marble flourished, stretching for miles in all directions. This was the capital of the Caelestine, the center of the universe for all she knew. And soon, she would find herself leaving this wondrous city to become greater than she is now. As a pair of angels swooped by the gateway, she found herself imagining what it must feel like to have such freedom. She then began to make her way down the bridge and to the surface far below. "Soon" she thought quietly to her self, "I too shall become an angel."

Ikran - Ceciderunt Dea

Grand Ambassador's Spire, Representative Council Offices
Nexulai, Akreaus

---

Grand Ambassador Sokolniki stood to the side of his desk with an open window directly behind him, revealing the valley between the mountainous peaks around which the city resided. The Blind Seer gazed out a window on the far side of the room, as her guardian, Novaus, stood guard off to the side, His weapons were confiscated before he was allowed to enter, but he remained a protective presence around the Blind Seer. The Seer herself was dressed in silken robes, and her silver wings sparkled magnificently in the light of the rising sun and the many hues of the portals visible from the window.

"Are you certain that your people will accept this?" inquired the falcon-like Averian. "I don't want to give them the impression that Nexulai is... intruding upon your traditions."

The Blind Seer turned away from the window, her bandaged face pointed directly toward the Grand Ambassador. "It will be fine with my people, so long as I'm fine with your selected champion."

Sokolniki chuckled a little to himself. "Really, he's more of an explorer than a 'Champion'", he replied earnestly. "The main purpose of our explorers is to learn about other worlds and their populations. Fighting, while necessary for survival at times, is merely a secondary skill for them."

Her eyebrows turned gentle; she was accepting of his response. "Regardless, it will be necessary that I judge this individual myself before he is permitted to our world."

The Ambassador's cheeks widened in a rough grin around his beaks. "Yes, of course. I am certain that he will pass. He is someone we've had high hopes for ever since he began his training." Reaching up, his avian talons grasped and pulled down on a rope hanging from the ceiling, the chiming of a bell was heard outside.

---

Strolling through the halls of the Grand Ambassador's Spire was a freshly certified explorer named Aiden Toft. He was escorted by a young woman wearing a simple, yet elegant navy blue dress. His choice of apparel was a bit more ornate, but no less formal; he wore a black morning coat, with both sides connected by a single large button over his abdomen. A pristine cobalt handkerchief was folded in the coat's left front pocket. Underneath the coat was a dark grey double breasted vest with white sleeves, with a black tie neatly tucked underneath the vest. His trousers matched the color of his coat. His footwear did stand out a bit in comparison to the rest of his clothing, though; they were thick black leather boots, clacking against the smooth marble floor as Aiden and his temporary companion steadily made their way towards their destination.

Aiden had never felt more nervous in his entire life. He'd just completed the highly demanding, almost hellish training required to become an official Nexulaian state explorer. He'd entered many rifts in that time, navigating through the labyrinthine Abyss to reach whatever remote dimension his objectives were located in. In fact, his life was threatened on more than a few occasions while on these treks, either by the alien wildlife, inclement weather, or the ever present possibility of getting hopelessly lost on a faraway world, alone and forgotten, but none of that compared to what he was about to do: meet the Grand Ambassador of Nexulai himself.

Aiden smoothly kept his left hand in his trouser's pocket as he walked, and tried to maintain a tall, confident posture, but his expression betrayed the image he was trying to convey. His youthful blue eyes flitted around in their sockets, never staying locked on a single point for too long, and he gritted his teeth behind his tightened lips. It was almost like he was desperately trying to find something to help take his mind off of the impending meeting, at least for a short time. Who could blame him? Aiden was about to meet the most powerful man in Nexulai, and possibly all of Akreaus, as well, and he hadn't even taken on a single official assignment yet! He may have grown up in an upper-class family, but nothing could have prepared him for such a momentous occasion. Thoughts raced through Aiden's head as he struggled to make sense of the situation. What was he going to say? How was he going to respond to the Ambassador's inquiries? He knew that this was for a mission, but what kind of mission required a meeting with the Grand Ambassador, of all people?

His chaotic thoughts immediately cleared up as soon as his escort opened the door to the Ambassador's office. Aiden briefly froze in place, his eyes widened and his mouth cracking open slightly. One could compare such an expression to that of game staring a predator in the face as they lined up a shot. Seeing the ambassador did a number to his state of mind already, but then he laid his eyes on the two strange individuals alongside him. The man looked very much like an assassin of some sort, what with his dark clothing, light armor and mask. This set him on edge, but before he could do anything rash, he noticed the woman and completely seized up. She had radiant, downy wings that reflected the many colored lights shining in through the window behind her. This physical oddity did not damage her appearance in any way. Rather, Aiden found her to be mind-numbingly gorgeous, to the point where her beauty just seemed downright unnatural to him. Aiden felt like he was completely out of his element here. It took Sokolniki's voice to snap him out of his daze and regain a portion of his composure.

"I would like to introduce you to Aiden, the man who was selected to carry out this mission," Sokolniki stated. He then turned, then addressed the young explorer, "Now, why don't you be a gentleman and introduce yourself?"

"O-oh! Yes, er, of course, Grand Ambassador..." Aiden replied quickly, his voice quivering ever so slightly. He readjusted his posture, clearing his throat and stepping forward before bowing deeply before Sokolniki and his two guests. "Aiden Toft, certified explorer of Nexulai, at your service. I-it is a great honor to be in the presence of such auspicious individuals such as yourselves, Ms. and Mr...." He trailed off, giving them the opportunity to introduce themselves, but when he turned to the Blind Seer again, he paused. Something about her appearance, her wings in particular, seemed familiar. Aiden narrowed his eyes slightly in concentration as he struggled to figure out where he'd seen them before.

A few moments later, it hit him; "Are you...a Caelistine, by any chance?" His eyes then widened in recognition. "You are, aren't you? And you're..." For the first time since he received word of the meeting at the Grand Ambassador's Spire, his mouth curled up into a grin. "You're ascended, as well! Brilliant! Or was it awakened? Ah, no matter! I tried to learn all I could about your kind and realm during my studies, but the books only covered so much! I have so many questions!"
Then his smile suddenly disappeared as he realized what he was doing. "Ah...s-sorry." He took a step back, rubbing the back of his neck and chuckling lightly in embarrassment. "Was I too forward? I do apologize..." Well, if there was one thing the Blind Seer could gather from this initial meeting, it was that Aiden was very enthusiastic.

Novaus crossed his arms and shook his head in dismay as the Blind Seer giggled softly. She then started walking around the explorer, her head moving as though she was looking directly at the explorer, even though her eyes were completely covered up. "I suppose it is to be expected. You are certainly excited." As she circled Aiden, her head shifted as though she was actually inspecting him. "Curious... I mean, you are. You are possessed of an unquenchable thirst for knowledge."
As she finished circling the young man, she then leveled with his eyes, her wings fluttering slightly, and she said in almost song like voice, "But to answer your question... I am indeed a Caelestine angel. I am known to my people as the Blind Seer. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Aiden."

For the briefest moment, Aiden realized that he had his little outburst in front of the Grand Ambassador. He would've started kicking himself mentally for it in his mind, but the Blind Seer's positive reaction gave him pause. He turned his head to follow her as she circled him, examining his form. That was when he noticed the white cloth draped over her eyes. He raised a quizzical eyebrow at that. It seemed to him as though she was rendered blind in the past. Why else would she cover her eyes? Her introduction a few seconds later confirmed that, and yet, the angel seemed to recognize his presence perfectly. She even looked him over like she could see him perfectly. If she really was blind, then why did she act like she could really see him?

That question would have to come later, though. Aiden nodded to the Blind Seer politely after she introduced herself. "Indeed, and your claim is not inaccurate. I have dedicated much of my life to the study of the rifts and the worlds beyond them. It has been my dream to see them first-hand."
He then faced the shady-looking fellow, who had remained silent this whole time. The explorer gave him a once-over, intrigued. "And may I ask who your companion might be? He certainly looks like he's prepared for anything."

The angel smiled gently. "He is my friend and my protector; Novaus."
The man uncrossed his arms and spoke in a rough and damaged voice, "Officially, I am but a sword for hire, but the young woman standing before you is someone I've protected ever since she lost her parents."
"Yes, I believe it was in Kanas, correct?" The Grand Ambassador inquired from near his desk.
"Indeed," replied the mercenary, "I lost one eye and much of my voice in the attack... she lost all but her life."

Glancing over at her companion, the Seer spoke to reassure him of her safety, "This one is no danger to me, Noveaus, you can relax. You are probably making him nervous."
"I'll trust your judgement," he replied.

Aiden frowned slightly through this new line of conversation, his stark blue eyes softening. Things got dark very quickly. Both of them were grievously wounded in the past, and the Seer lost just about everything she cared about. When Sokolniki mentioned Kanas, it didn't take long for him to recognize the name. "Kanas..." He muttered, his frown deepening, "Oh dear. You're both survivors of the sacking of Kanas? I heard it was..." A massacre, but he couldn't bring himself to describe it as such. No doubt, it would only cause more painful memories to resurface.
"I, I'm sorry."

"You need not worry," she said, her smile pained. "All that is needed for hope to survive is life itself." For a moment, she stood in silence, but then her smile turned genuine.
"Besides, though I was robbed of traditional vision, it was replaced with the capacity to see souls and spirits... and that is the reason why I am here in Nexulai, and more importantly, standing here before you."
Novaus uncrossed his arms, "I take it you've come to a decision then milady?" Sokolniki then looked towards the angel with a sense of anticipation.
"Indeed I have," she replied. She quickly turned aside to face the Averian, unfolding one of her wings to almost wrap around Aiden's back. "Young Aiden is worthy of observing the Pilgrimage as per your request."
Sokolniki clapped his taloned hands together in an expression of joy. "Marvelous! I shall prepare the necessary documents for his passage as soon as possible then."

Souls and spirits? That answered Aiden's previous questions, but many new ones rose in its place. So, if what she said was true, the Blind Seer could see his life force, as if it were a shining beacon in the dark? Could she see into his very nature, possibly understanding him better than he understood himself? Perhaps it was both? These possibilities fascinated the explorer. He would have to investigate the subject further in the future. Before he could get a chance to respond, however, Novaus asked the Seer if she had come to a decision. When the angel turned to face him, Aiden felt a strangely soft and warm sensation over his shoulders. He turned to see one of the Seer's wings wrapping around him. Needless to say, he was taken by surprise.

"Ah-, um..." He didn't even get a chance to recover before the Caelistine informed Sokolniki and Novaus that Aiden was worthy of observing the Pilgrimage. The explorer just stopped. The Pilgrimage...he'd learned about the cultural phenomenon during his extensive studies on Ceciderunt Dea. According to the natives, some Caelistine embarked on a long, arduous journey to find a being called the Featherkeeper, otherwise known as the Right Hand of the Goddess. Apparently, if a Caelestine successfully reached the Featherkeeper, he or she would proceed grow angelic wings and ascend to a higher state of existence. This information was acquired via interviews with members of the general populace and the Caelistine government, of course; Nexulai had never actually witnessed such a grand event... and Aiden was chosen as the first. He would be the first Akreausean to document an actual Pilgrimage and bear witness to a Caelestine's ascension.

"You...you want me to...that's what this was about?!" Aiden couldn't help but raise his voice slightly in surprise. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, he took a step away from the Blind Seer, and bowed deeply before her.
"Blind Seer. I am truly honored to receive such an offer, and I humbly accept. I will document the Pilgrimage to the best of my ability."
A few seconds of silence passed before he looked back up at her somewhat sheepishly. "But...who would I be traveling with? You have already ascended."

"A close friend of mine is about to begin her pilgrimage," she replied.
Sokolniki strode to the back of his desk, speaking in his rich voice, "Yes, you came here with a special request a month ago at Featherkeeper's behest." He opened the drawer to search for something. "A spear was to be crafted from one of the trees your people hold sacred... remarkable piece of lumber, that was."

At last, the mercenary stepped away from the window, and he proceeded to provide further explanation on the subject. "I wouldn't call the trees sacred to the Caelestine themselves, but the Featherkeeper holds them in very high regard for some reason. From the day the Caelestine ancestors first gazed upon their Great Lady of Light, the Featherkeeper has not once permitted the felling of one of her trees. To hear that she has felled one by her own hands so that strangers from another world could craft with them caused quite a stir among the Assembly."

Aiden listened intently to the conversation between the Grand Ambassador and the mercenary. A spear crafted in Nexulai, formed from the finest lumber Ceciderunt Dea had to offer? This was news to him. He wasn't even aware that the Featherkeeper's trees were so valuable. He figured that he would surely get the chance to investigate this further once he accomplished his objective. Perhaps he could ask the Featherkeeper herself, provided that she was willing to divulge such information.

Sokolniki chuckled to himself, grasping and pulling out what it was he had been looking for: a slip of paper that was formatted in a manner one would expect to see in a receipt for commissioned work. "Strangers from another land, I think not. She was very specific that it was to be done by a certain individual... ah yes, Conrose. Quite the peculiar individual, that one. So young, yet he matches the skill of craftsmen three times his age... though his temper and lack of patience are always getting him into trouble. In the past year alone he's gotten into seven severe brawls, committed two acts of vigilantism, and received three accounts of assaulting an officer of the law."

When the conversation's topic shifted to this spear's creator and Aiden heard his name, his mood darkened slightly. He'd ran into Conrose a few times before, though never for too long. He mostly just visited him to inquire about the occasional artifact he managed to find during his field tests, and on one occasion, he found the man while he was locked in a violent confrontation with a burly Raptorial. These encounters tended to end on a sour note, mostly due to Conrose's bitterness and seemingly endless well of sarcasm.

"You can add trespassing on government property to my list of offenses, if you'd like," came a bold voice from the door, prompting the Grand Ambassador to look towards the door. Standing there was a man with dark hair and silver eyes. His pants and shirt were both black, and over his shirt he wore a white leather vest. Over his shoulder, he carried a long thin sack that was easily over 6 feet in length. Novaus immediately placed himself between the newcomer and the Blind Seer.
Behind Conrose stood the secretary, sheepishly looking towards the ground. "Sorry sir... but you know how he is."

Upon hearing a familiar voice, Aiden he swiveled on his feet to find the source. It was none other than Conrose E. Lanturz himself. "Oh dear." The explorer winced; he'd waited upwards to an hour for his meeting with the Ambassador to start, but the artiface just waltzed in here like nobody's business. Novaus was already on edge, and there was no telling how Sokolniki would react to this. All Aiden could do was stand there and watch the situation unfold, hoping that this wouldn't end too badly.

Sokolniki took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh. Gesturing towards the new arrival, he introduced in dismay, "Speak of the devil... might I introduce you two to Conrose, then?"
"We've had a run in to each other a few months ago," she responded. "It is, however, a pleasure to be formally introduced at last."
Swinging the spear off of his shoulder, he held it out to her. "You will get this spear on one condition."
The mercenary's brow furled in anger. "You've been granted a great honor just to work with such fine lumber, and you were paid well in advance. What makes you think-"

The jingling of metal could be heard as Conrose tossed a second bag from his waist to the mercenary, who caught it without missing a beat. The way he had to step back as he did so suggested there was a great deal of weight in it. "The money is of no concern to me; I require a much more valuable payment for this particular case."
The angel smiled, "I see... but first, let me inspect it."
Nodding, the artificer pulled the object from the satchel. It was a long spear with a reddish brown wooden shaft, with the grain seemingly filled in with alternating gold and silver. The Spear head as a bronze finely polished to a mirror sheen with silver runes inscribed into it, and a diamond cut and polished to a size 2 inches wide, 4 inches long extending from the end of the wooden shaft towards the spear tip. Runes glowed within the diamond as though they had been suspended inside the entire time.

"...Whoa," Aiden breathed as Conrose pulled the newly crafted spear out of the satchel. He knew that the man was good, but the weapon looked absolutely majestic. It had to have been more valuable than anything on the Nexulaian market. He quickly discovered that the Seer shared his sentiment as he heard her struggling to find the right words to say through her shock. What she was able to see of the weapon nearly left her speechless.

"This... this is... it had been my intent to have Novaus inspect the weapon for me, but... this had no spiritual energy left in it when we originally delivered the lumber!"
Novaus stepped closer and grasped the weapon, but when he attempted to pull it from Conrose, the Artificer held on tightly, his expression unchanging. "The payment I require is that I be permitted to visit the Featherkeeper myself."
Insulted, Novaus grabbed the spear with his other hand and glared into the young man's eyes. "You insolent..."

Aiden tensed up as Novaus moved to take the spear from him, and as the two started to argue, he began to fear that another violent altercation would occur, in the Grand Ambassador's very own office, of all places. Such an incident would be all over the news within the hour. Fortunately, the fight never came to pass, but Conrose's terms for handing over the spear may have surprised Aiden more than he would've been if a fight had actually started.

"Stand down Novaus," came a calming voice from behind him. Letting out a sigh, the mercenary regained his composure. "This one is filled with much anger, but there is, for whatever reason, a spark of hope set deep inside." She then stood to the side of her bodyguard and addressed the artificer directly, "You may see the Featherkeeper, if my friend makes it there safely, as well."
Conrose bared his teeth momentarily, displeased with the condition, before relenting and releasing the spear. "Very well, then."
The Grand Ambassador let out a sigh of relief. "Well... that may be the first time I've ever seen him agree to something he didn't like."
Conrose let out a short, bitter chuckle. "Ordinarily, the person with which I'm arguing isn't holding all the cards... or if they do, they don't quite know it yet. This little girl does. I'll catch you all later." He turned on his heels and hastily left the room, barely giving the secretary time to step out of the way.

Aiden remained silent until the craftsman left after a few enigmatic words were shared between him and the Seer. The explorer was left standing there, wondering what just happened. "...Hold on. He wants to see the Featherkeeper... that doesn't mean he's coming with me, is he?" Aiden asked, suddenly looking very worried, his gaze shifting between the Seer, her bodyguard and Sokolniki, "Ah, are you sure that's a good idea? I mean..."

"You need not worry, though your concerns are justified," came an assuring tone from the angel. "He's angry, and inherently violent, but he cares enough to have put his heart and soul into making something that he knew would be for someone else. It's clear that this whole affair has genuinely caught his interest."
"Are you sure?" Her bodyguard inquired.
From behind his desk, the Grand Ambassador gave his own thoughts, wiping sweat from the feathers of his forehead, "Eh... to be completely honest, I'm not in favor of this, either."
"Noted, but you must understand, this development was anticipated," replied the Blind Seer, "by the Featherkeeper herself."

Aiden couldn't disagree with the Seer's description of Conrose. He always wore his heart on his sleeve, despite such displays often backfiring on him magnificently, and he genuinely seemed to care about his craft. However, he still couldn't figure out why he, of all people, wanted to see the Featherkeeper. He was no explorer, nor was he a Caelist. In fact, Aiden just couldn't figure out what he really was. Conrose never honored his questions with proper responses. The Seer then confirmed that she was aware of the whole situation before was even made apparent to him. He probably wouldn't get anything out of Conrose, so he did what he thought was the next best thing.

"Um, excuse me, er...Ms. Seer?" He seemed to wince slightly. Not the best way to alleviate the awkward mood. "You say that the Featherkeeper is expecting him, but... do you know why would he ever need to visit her? What would he gain from it? I can't imagine why he would take such an interest in her."
The Seer leaned torwards Aiden, tilting her head and smiling slightly. "Perhaps you shall find out when at least the two of them meet in your presence."
Aiden blinked twice, confused, before he realized that the Seer was teasing him. He smirked, amused and cheering up slightly. "Heh... alright. I suppose that's fair. Wouldn't be as much fun if I found the truth before I even had the chance to start looking."

"Good. Now, I must be going. I'll see you when all the appropriate preparations are taken care of," she continued. "Take care, Aiden Toft." She turned away and stepped out the door.
"I will. Farewell, Blind Seer!" He bowed once more to the angel before she left, before seeing something from Novaus he didn't expect to see; he was laughing. It was a harsh laugh, no doubt due to his damaged vocal cords, but still, it was a surprisingly open display of emotion.
"Yeah, she knows which buttons to push," he muttered. There Aiden was, starting to think he was one of those dark, mysterious men who knew or cared nothing for positive emotion. Perhaps he was such a man in the past, but the Seer was starting to rub off on him. Aiden was hard pressed to think of a better influence.

Shortly afterwards, Novaus vanished through the door. The secretary followed suit, shutting the door behind her, leaving the explorer alone with the Grand Ambassador, who slunk down into his seat as he let out a sigh. "I must confess, Aiden... I'm not used to this room being filled by a more dominating presence than my own."
It suddenly hit the explorer; he was alone with Grand Ambassador Sokolniki in his office. Gulping silently, he turned back to face the leader of his nation. He spent a few moments forming a coherent response to the Averian's statement. He certainly couldn't disagree with him; the Blind Seer had one of the gentlest souls he'd ever known, and yet, she had this subtle aura about her that seemed to command respect. "I'd be hard pressed to disagree with you, sir. I remember seeing her name mentioned on a few occasions during my studies. She's considered a great oracle of sorts by her people," He explained.Remembering that he was in front of one of the top political figures in Akreaus, he rushed to correct himself.
"O-of course, your presence is not to be underestimated, sir," He spoke quickly, "You're a fine leader in your own right, and I'm honored to have had the opportunity to meet you in the flesh!"

Sokolniki laughed from his desk. "Well, war hasn't broken out between our species yet, so I must be doing something right. But when people like the Blind Seer show up... or Conrose; dear lord, he's a handful." He straightened up in his seat, and raised his eyebrows to the explorer. "Speaking of which, are you comforta-... nah, I guess it's better to ask; do you think you'll be able to tolerate that man's presence over the course of your journey?"

Sokolniki's relaxed attitude helped to calm Aiden's nerves. The young explorer knew that the Grand Ambassador was a fair and just leader, but nobody truly understood another person's nature until they met them directly, face to face. Aiden let out a small sigh. He could stand to be a little more casual. "That's... a very good question, Ambassador," He replied somewhat hesitantly, being unsure himself. Sokolniki was right, Conrose was a handful to deal with. However, as grating as he could be, there was one potentially good thing he could see in him, it was his determination. His demand to go see the Featherkeeper, coupled with the Seer's observations of him, helped cement that as a fact.
"To be honest, I'm... not entirely sure myself. I have spoken with him in the past, but those meetings were always brief. Never really got to know him. I know about his belligerent nature, but at the same time...he seems driven. He knows what he wants, and he'll stop at nothing to achieve it. The Seer saw that in him, so... I believe I should give him the benefit of the doubt, at least. I'm certain that we will end up at odds at some point during this journey, but I don't think he'll do anything that will endanger his chances of reaching the Featherkeeper, so..." He nodded once. "Yes. I think I can tolerate him."

Sokolniki's cheeks widened, "Glad to hear it." Grabbing a file he had under his desk, he rose up from his seat and walked over to Aiden, handing him the file before leading him to the door. "That file contains the usual information for follow-up expeditions; maps, profiles regarding regional leaders as well as edible or useful flora and fauna."
He then stopped for a moment, "Also, as an extra assignment relating to this, I'd like you to observe Conrose as well. He's one of Nexulai's more... mysterious inhabitants, and I'm certain he is hiding many valuable secrets." His hands then went to the bottom of his beak, rubbing the underside as though he were possessed of an intriguing thought, "Not many people know this, but when he first came here, he did not speak one word of the so called 'Standard' language that is spread across the vast majority of the societies we have encountered."

Aiden took the file from Sokolniki's hands, nodding in affirmation and holding it at his side. He'd definitely set some time aside later to study its contents. The explorer then tilted his head curiously when the Ambassador's switched the subject back to Conrose. He found it odd how the Averian put so much emphasis on keeping an eye on him. The reason why became clear when he mentioned that Conrose didn't speak a word of Standard when he first arrived.
"...I'm sorry?" Aiden was baffled by this revelation. Sure, when the rifts were discovered, people found it odd how all these different civilizations spoke the same language, but now that this was widely accepted, Conrose showing up with no prior knowledge of the language stood out even more.
"Er, Ambassador?" Aiden asked again after processing this new information, "If that's the case, then... where did he come from? What is he?"

He looked up slightly with an almost nostalgic expression. "He entered Nexulai through one of the portals about 12 years ago, roughed up a few of our guards and vanished for a week. We had people trying to track him down the entire time." Though it was a violent period in his life, it was clear that the Ambassador missed some of the action he once witnessed as a city guard captain. "After we captured him, we had to keep him locked up for a year, just so we could teach him a language we could understand without him escaping and wreaking more havoc."

He then looked at Aiden. "And let me tell you something, he has much more restraint than you give him credit for. That night, when he first arrived here, somehow... he was wielding six blades, all at once. We've not run into a single race that can reproduce such a feat ever since we discovered the rifts. I hate to disappoint you, Aiden, but we have no idea what he is, either."
Putting his hands on the young humans shoulders, he spoke with a tone of certainty, "But in light of what we saw from that man just now, I think we can finally find some answers through this Featherkeeper."

Aiden listened closely to Sokolniki's story, fascinated by the events following Conrose's first appearance. He wondered if the Ambassador ever told this story to anyone else. There was one thing about the tale that really stumped him, probably as much as it stumped Sokolniki; the fact that Conrose wielded six blades at once. Somehow. It sounded absolutely ludicrous, and the explorer had no doubt in his mind that the Ambassador felt the same way, but it was the truth, nonetheless. Unfortunately, the truth did nothing to help him understand Conrose any better. Sokolniki was right; their best bet at finding any solid info on him was through the Featherkeeper.

When the Averian grasped his shoulders, the human took that as a sign that there was no reason to continue the meeting. He'd learned everything he needed to know about the mission, gained the materials he needed to prepare for it, and became acquainted with the people that would undoubtedly be important to his quest in some form or another. "I understand, sir. I don't know how the Featherkeeper will react to my presence, but... I will try to gather information about Conrose through her. Barring that, I can observe her interactions with him, at the very least."
Sokolniki chuckled. "With Conrose around, I hardly think you'll be a concern to her."
Aiden had to chuckle a bit at that, as well. "Too true. When do I leave, sir?"

"I should have your visas ready shortly," he answered, "but go ahead and take the rest of the day to gather supplies and tie up any loose ends. I'm certain your parents will be eager to hear about your first official assignment... and I'm sure that they'll be incredibly proud of you once they hear the details." He looked at a clock set into the wall opposite of the Secretary's desk. "Report to the Ceciderunt Quarter at the end of Libere Avenue tomorrow morning at eight. I shall have the last of your papers prepared before then."

"Of course, sir. My parents...heh, I can't wait to see the look on their faces once I inform them." He took a few steps back before bowing one last time before Sokolniki.
"Thank you so much for granting me this opportunity, Grand Ambassador. You will not regret your decision, I swear it. Farewell!"

With that, Aiden Toft took his leave, an ecstatic grin affixed to his face. This was the chance of a lifetime, and he couldn't have been happier. However, at the same time, he still felt a hint of trepidation. Going on the Pilgrimage and witnessing a Caelestine's ascension would be huge, but he would also have to find the truth about Conrose. Who was he, really, and what strange, uncharted world did he originate from? There was one other thing that bothered him, too; who was the Caelestine he would be travelling with? He mentally cursed himself as he realized that he completely forgot to ask for the pilgrim's identity. There was no need to panic, though. Her identity was probably listed in the file somewhere, and if it wasn't, well...he could always go to Conrose. He wanted to avoid that if possible, but life didn't always give him a choice. Even so, the uncertainty only served to strengthen Aiden's resolve. No matter what happened on the journey, he would overcome any challenge he and his companions would encounter and see this through to the end. The allurement of discovery was far too great for him to falter.

Ikran - Ceciderunt Dea

A city in the midst of lakes sat in the groove between two mountains. Throughout the city, strange lights shined of brilliantly varied hues. Many sat at the end of streets or canals, others sat at the top. The town square had five of them set around the plaza. The streets were of quarried stone bricks that were light-gray in color. Lining the streets were buildings of varied material and architectural styles. Most stood 2 or 3 stories tall, though some steel and stone buildings reached towards the sky as though attempting to scrape it. Some buildings were excessively ornate, built from finely chiseled and polished marble. As diverse as the construction of the city were the people who occupied it. Every color imaginable was worn by someone somewhere, and one need only look down a street to see most of them. Clothing was crafted from everything from cotton, fine silks and leathers of varying textures. Some world even started exporting boots formed from the scaly hides of some of their native creatures. The people themselves were similarly diverse. Skin color ranged from blacks to light pales, and many variety of hues. Some were covered in animal like fur or even scales. A significant portion of the population was filled with people covered in bird like feathers with beaks and talons to match. But most were certainly human, or at least human like such as the pointy eared elves, or the short and stubby dwarves. As the sun rose over the city, and the fog retreats from the morning light, more and more people fill the streets. Wagons filled with goods traveled to and from the portals and into the storefronts and the Central Market. People traded gold, and silver for more than just physical possessions; the Castle-like Magister's Academy and accompanying Nexus Library set at the base of Wek'Vol Peak was a testament to the city's exchange of knowledge and ideas. On the outskirts of the city sat 5 large lakes at which the city's residents often sought relaxation upon. One some sailed seaworthy cargo ships small enough to fit the portals that sat at the surface of their lakes, connecting to the ocean of another world rather than another inland body of water.

Through the streets strode a young man, his clothes dark in color but his gauntlets ornate, constructed of gold and silver. His hair as dark as a raven, and his eyes as brilliant as the gauntlets he wore. Over his shoulders, he carried a sack containing something slim and pointed that was over 6 feet in length. It's weight was decent for its volume, but light for something constructed of the materials he knew it to be made from. He strode the street with confidence and purpose. Some who saw him backed away, they knew that look of determination was often the precursor to this man's intent to cause a stir; and right now, his gaze was fixed pointedly towards the growing spire at the center of the Representative Offices. "It's been a while since we last saw each other in person," he whispered to himself. He had heard whispers that the Caelestine Ambassador had headed into the offices with her personal bodyguard, likely to discuss matters of trade or diplomacy. But in his mind, these things could wait. There was a much more important matter at hand as far as he was concerned, and he would not be denied.

Still, he remembered the scuffle he got into with the bodyguard. The cycloptic mercenary definitely knows his stuff, but this time he'd most assuredly have been disarmed if he's in the Grand Ambassador's office. It was his one best chance to discuss the issue burning a hole into his mind directly with this so called "Blind Seer." And if need be, the fact that Conrose would be the only one in the room in possession of a weapon should be leverage enough to keep things on his own terms and assert his own demands. As he strode into the main lobby of the crescent shaped building's base, he was abruptly stopped by a pair of guards.

"Stop right there Conrose, you have no business here," called out the human guard.

The Averian laughed to himelf, "I think you paid off the fines for your LAST offense already didn't you."

"Yes, as a matter of fact I did you bird brain," he retorted angrily. That one wasn't even his fault either, the drunkard picked a fight with him convinced his woman was cheating on him for Conrose. The silver eyed man was only guilty of handily winning the fight. "But I'm here on business relating to the Caelestine representative."

"That's what the sack is for? Let us see,"

He smiled, "It is a weapon, you aren't going to draw your swords when I show it are you?"

The human put his hands on his sheathed blade's pommel. "Have you any proof of the purchase?"

Reaching into a small pouch in his belt, he pulled out a small rolled up scroll and handed it to the Averian. He opened it up and examined it closely; "A spear constructed of the gold trees of the Featherkeeper specifically suited for use with healing and protective magics and for channeling mana related to the light. The Grand Ambassador's signature is present here as well." He then looked up at the young man before them. "Can you explain why delivery of this can't wait til after they are done with their own meeting with Sokolniki?"

He laughed a little nervously. He had desperately hoped not to have to resort to this, but now... he had to. "My reason is legitimate, and in fact believable, trust me. But you wouldn't let me pass on this reason alone." Both guards then felt a swift pinch towards the base of their necks. Their heads swiftly went hazy and shortly thereafter they passed out. One fell forward, this one he caught, but the human fell away from him and hit the ground with a thump as 4 swords floated effortlessly in the air where the two men stood. "You two really should keep an eye out for strange things like swords slinking along the floor."

After carefully lowering the Averian to the floor, he regained a solid grip on his package and strode through the lobby. Most of the workers for the office luckily weren't present this early in the morning so no one was there to see his invasion.